Chương 252: Aflame

"You are surrounded, little whelp of Pain," the hulking leonid growled as his summoned creatures of oozing, blighted putrefaction spread out around the small valley along with the silver-ranker's bronze-ranked acolytes.

"And when you are surrounded by Plague, you have already lost. Submit to his touch and take pride in the knowledge that you will be another glorious vector in his great tide." In the middle of the small, remote valley in the eastern reaches of Hua-Xi, Dancer on the Broken River stood tall before her quarry, who had seemingly cornered her.

Inwardly, River was a bit frustrated that she had not caught up in time to interrupt the summoning, but that was a feeling directed at her own failings rather than any sense of alarm. Only nuisance.

"All I am surrounded by-" River began, conjured chains starting to unfurl from behind her, "- is fear. And dea-" She was interrupted though, but likewise so were any preparations by her foes. Because at that moment, a shimmering streak descended from the skies. It was like the streak of a falling star, but where one might expect its descent to end in an eruption of soil and stone, this was not the case.

Instead, the blur resolved itself into the form of a beetle-like construct the size of a small cart, made from metal in multiple vibrant colors.

"A delivery from the great Resplendent Gleam of Imagination! Your aura signature has been deemed a match. Accept delivery?" a metallic and surprisingly cheerful voice asked, echoing out from the construct's interior.

"... Yes," River eventually managed to say, even her composure broken by the sudden arrival of a diamond-ranked creation. It was but a minor thing compared to Gleam herself, and River could feel but a smidgeon of sentience in the thing's aura. But its mere presence still held the full, paralyzed attention of everyone in the remote conflict. At River's confirmation, the beetle turned and opened its shell as if it was about to unfurl wings and take flight.

This was apparently enough to cause one of the more foolhardy bronze-rankers to twitch, launching a bolt of dark blight from her eyes towards the construct and River.

"Defensive measures employed." The bolt had barely left her body when a small point of light suddenly appeared at the end of the construct's articulated antennae, firing a thin beam of bright magic that pierced and dissolved the projectile. And, unfortunately for the acolyte, also her head which found itself in the beam's continued trajectory. River felt the woman's aura wink out instantly, and any other preparations to interrupt she felt in the spirits of the others died like candles before a hurricane.

Continuing as if nothing had happened, the beetle construct presented a now open compartment beneath its shell. Inside lay a mask made from some kind of smoky glass that would cover one's whole face. It was sculpted like an androgynous face without holes for the eyes, each socket a mere shallow indent, and beside it lay a small note written in angular, precise letters.

"This was a challenge, but I believe the result will be to your satisfaction. Thus is karma severed, though my gratitude remains." River didn't need any signature to know who had penned the note. She quickly reached in and put the mask on her face without hesitation. As her mana connected to the artifact, it stuck to her face without issue as awareness of the potent enchantments of the object started flooding River's mind.

"Delivery made. Returning." River barely heard the words of the beetle construct as she was mentally updating her plan for the upcoming violence, because while the leonid and his minions had not dared make more attacks while the construct remained they had not been idle as several magical circles and similar preparations had started dotting the small valley. With a roar of displaced air, the beetle disappeared upward as it once again moved fast enough to seemingly turn into a streak of light.

"I do not know if you expected that thing to assist you, whelp, but if so your hopes look to have been in vain," the leonid said, tense grin turning slightly more hungry.

"But in the end, you are still alone."

"Such is my path," was all River replied before chains burst from her in every direction while to her onlookers it seemed as if her physical form distorted and vanished among the flickering streaks of thrashing links.

"And you will be the next piece of unwitting trash to feed my climb towards your masters."

"Ah, Uncle… This is indeed quite the karmic retribution. But I wonder if the balance has suddenly turned in my favor…" Kite murmured softly, looking forlornly out a nearby window framed by beautiful carvings, the enchanted glass heightening the colors and contrasts of Heavenward in the not too far-off distance. But as it turned out, he had not spoken softly enough.

"Sentinel? Anything you want to add to the discussions?" a male voice called out, dragging Kite's attention back to the cluster of richly dressed people, their robes clearly enchanted for both function and form.

"My apologies, Young Master Silver," Kite replied, keeping his tone polite and ignoring the other man's liberties in shortening Kite's recent title. The Young Master was his host at the countryside estate, after all, and Kite already felt out of his depth enough among all the other silver-rankers to keep things on the safer side.

"You were trying to gauge the outcome of the clash, no?"

"Ah, so you were paying attention. Indeed we were," the Young Master added, his aura only hinting at the shadow of slight derision while his tone remained magnanimous.

"Given the acclaim of your martial prowess, who would you bet on being the victor here?" The subjects of his question were currently clashing outside on a wide, empty field a bit removed from the main buildings of the Silvers' country manor. Said field was currently filled with swirling twisters of destructive light which a single, nimble human woman tried to navigate in order to bring the many knives she was juggling to bear against her foe.

Both of the combatants in the exhibition bout were very early silvers and students to some of the much more experienced silver-rankers present among the party goers. While Kite had up until now only kept himself at the periphery of the group around Young Master Silver, the attention of everyone was now on him, so he took a while to properly take in the clashing warriors; the way the moved and launched their attacks, the timings, their-"Young Master, you shouldn't give the more simple folk such complex questions.

Their minds get overburdened so easily," a woman leaned in and whispered to their host, even though it was a whisper clearly meant to be picked up by any silver-ranker present, Kite included. The host did make a show of waving off her comment, although no rebuke seemed to be forthcoming, and as such it was up to Kite to make his own retort.

So Kite shoved down the slight frustration urging him to simply challenge the woman then and there, however satisfying it might have been, and instead made a show of ignoring the comment while he finished his observations of the clash in the distance. This did mean that a few other whispers started up around him, but they fell silent once Kite turned to the woman.

"My apologies, Young Mistress, but I merely wanted to make sure to give the question of our esteemed host the attention it deserved. You may not know my path, but it is one of judgment and patience, not rash decisions. And I've found that it has kept me alive so far both when tangling with monsters or with the enemies of the kingdom inside the Gate.

But as it seems that your keen mind has already come to some kind of deduction faster than a simple man such as I, would you please share your judgment too so that I may learn from it?" The woman seemed a bit taken aback by Kite's polite tone, but the break in her mask of control was only noticeable for a brief moment before it was covered up.

"Well," she began, drawing herself up.

"While the student of Young Mistress Risen seems to be gaining on her foe, the student of Young Master Brass seems to be working towards something decisive with his zones of swirling light. I believe this will end the bout in his favor."

"I see… I see…" Young Master Silver said, nodding.

"Then what about you, Sentinel? We can't let the outcast rising star get off too easily with mere deflections now, can we?" he asked, the friendliness in his tone clearly just a thin facade. Feeling his discomfort growing by the moment as he could not entirely figure out the Young Master's game, Kite decided to channel a bit of the resolution he had mustered when squaring off against the Sect Leader in the throne room, his aura solidifying just a bit more as he answered.

"While the Young Mistress' assessment seems correct at first glance, I must unfortunately disagree though I of course mean no disrespect in doing so. Assuming this exhibition match follows the conventions currently reigning in the capital, I call that this one will be considered inconclusive."

"Oh? A draw? Sounds quite unlikely. Battles seldom end with one side backing down."

"A real battle doesn't have the constriction of not inflicting too grievous an injury, as I am sure most of you know," Kite retorted, tone polite even though his words were not necessarily so.

"Few here carry the mark of a core-user. I stand by my assessment though. The bout will be a draw unless the officiator has received any kind of special instructions. The stances and auras of both combatants are too confident and focused. They are both hiding aces with which to negate some advantage of the other, and as such I believe that the balancing act shall continue."

Kite had a few details he had picked out with his magical perception to back up his claim given how the two combatants spent their mana in a controlled fashion. At that moment, Kite was also struck with a small sense of pride in how he felt that he had instinctually started to analyze the two combatants and the flow of their powers as soon as he had laid eyes on them, before the question was even posed.

"Well, we shall have to wait and see then," Young Master Silver remarked, the attention of the group of party-goers directing their attention towards the bout. It took only a minute longer before the student with the swirling lights made the predicted move as the previously dormant hazards each started shooting out a torrent of seeking projectiles in an impressive cascade.

But as it turned out, Kite's assessment also held true as the knife-wielder seemed to step sideways and disappear in a flurry of conjured weapons, vanishing into some kind of temporary subspace as the sharp knives sought out her foe who in turn had to direct all of his focus in a series of light-empowered evasions. So when the respective barrages had died down, the status quo remained and the bout was called not too long after.

Young Mistress Risen seemed quite discontented with the development and Kite suspected that he might have been the target of some veiled spite had not Young Master Silver clapped his hands with a smile.

"Well done, Sentinel. I was surprised that you made the same assessment that I had myself, but it turns out you have an eye for these things. Pray, will we see you contend in the arena later this evening? You might not have a current ranking, but the splash you made a few years ago should still echo well enough in everyone's minds for an exception to be made?" At that moment, Kite got a feeling that maybe this whole conversation had been meant to lead up to this question.

While he had indeed made some waves earlier in silver rank, he was still pretty much an unknown these days. And in the time leading up to the proving, nobody - not even the likes of the Young Master Silver - liked an unknown. But in this case, Kite at least had a valid way out.

"It is indeed an honor to receive such praise from one ranked among the very top of the dueling ladders, Young Master Silver," Kite replied, bowing politely.

"But alas, my injury still lingers and it will be some time yet before I can step into the ring and make a proper showing of my path." As he spoke, Kite even pulled up the left sleeve of his fine robes slightly, revealing the glassed hand beneath, causing a slight murmur among those present.

"Ah, I see. A shame," Young Master Silver said, his smile kept light and polite.

"Hopefully we'll get to see the mettle of someone named by the King himself in the future then. With a spot in the Proving, I am sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to meet before then. But come, everyone, let us enjoy the rest of the evening. The next course is soon to be served."

"So, little Kite, you still live?" Walker asked with an only slightly mischievous smile as Kite entered his office in Convergence.

"How did that little contender's soirée treat my boy?"

"About as well as being thrown to a pack of wolves, I'd say," Kite replied with a sigh as he sat down. The party in question was a few days behind him, but there would be more to come in the future where someone from the guild would be all but required by social convention to represent them before the upcoming Grand Proving.

"At least I had a metaphorical torch making them want to circle a bit and size me up. Hopefully I managed to not give away too much, as I still believe they assume that I will be the one representing the guild."

"It probably won't last forever, but I still agree with our earlier assessment. Keeping Soul as a surprise for as long as possible will probably be to our benefit. But once it's known though, I'd expect that plenty of those who have already come to face her might reconsider their taking part in the dueling tournament of the Proving."

"While those participating in the monster hunts in the mirage arena might be glad to hear us not contending with their ambitions," Kite agreed.

"Unless he's lost Bastion's spot, I assume that is where Vista will be staking his claim." It had been some time since Kite met with the Young Master of the Relentless family in Bastion, as Vista had apparently left on an extended journey abroad to temper himself against monsters of other regions.

The mirage arena of Heavenward was not as extensive as those of the metropolises of the world, but they had amassed enough different monsters and environments over the years since its construction to pit the contenders against things not commonly seen in the kingdom. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

"Then the guild officially thanks you for your splendid contributions, my boy. Hopefully, we'll weather the years to come. Our ranks do keep growing too, slowly but steadily. Some of the non-contracted members reaching silver have moved on from the kingdom, but that was to be expected."

"Are we still seeing that influx of adventurer clergy? I do remember you taking note of that before."

"It's a trickle, but that's more than expected. Personally I see it as a blessing. We're offering a good alternative for those not wanting their acolytes tangled up in the sects while they work on their paths after all," Walker replied, pleased.

"Now if we could just find candidates for those potential portal essences of yours, I'd be one happy guild master."

"None so far then? Among the newer recruits?"

"Perhaps, but along with the clergy we've had mostly younger hopefuls lately. And while we don't discriminate on age, we really need one with a good head on their shoulders for the kind of commitment we're demanding," Walker mused.

"We-" However, both men stopped and turned towards the door as they felt Clarity of Wit, the iron-ranked priestess of Knowledge who also served as the guild's archivist, announce herself through her aura; an aura that was on the verge of reaching bronze rank soon, Kite noted. She entered at Walker's affirmation, bowing politely before the two.

"Guild Master. Senior Brother."

"Priestess," Walker replied, both he and Kite bowing towards the priestess in turn, as was customary practice when meeting the servants of the gods.

"How can we help you?"

"In this case, it is more about what Lady Knowledge can do to help you," Clarity said, her angular features carrying the knowing smile that Kite had seen on many of Knowledge's clergy over the years.

"She bade me give you a piece of advice, and a simple one at that."

"Oh? Pray tell."

"I was to tell you that should you find your way to the southwest in the coming months, she recommended stopping by the town of Sunvalley. It apparently has quite the scenic view of the sunset from a nearby hill."

"I… see," Kite said, mind trying to comprehend the meaning of this particular piece of advice.

"While we are ever grateful for the advice of the Goddess, I do wonder why this town in particular?"

"That is something for you to find out, should you venture there; one of the myriad snippets of authority my Lady spends every day. You may do with it what you wish. And if there is nothing more the Guild Master wishes of me, I have some new ledgers to compile."

"Oh? Well, please carry on then," Walker replied, equally puzzled as Kite. It didn't take long for the two men to produce what maps the guild possessed - which, given their tendency for courier contracts, was quite a few- and soon enough they found the town in question.

"Sunvalley," Kite noted, pointing at the small marker on the map.

"Not too far from Dawncast, where I reconvened with the others upon returning with Laevyeth. Which also means that it lies within the territory of the Fated Severance sect."

"Oh? That's the one Dew returned to, is it not?"

"It is," Kite confirmed.

"And as I am loath to discard the nudging of a Goddess such as Knowledge, I don't think that Sunvalley is something to disregard. It seems that I just got another reason to make a belated visit to Mistress Dew, neatly wrapped with a bow of mystery on top." That same afternoon, Kite was making his preparations to return home to his family before setting out again towards the Fated Severance sect. However, his packing was interrupted by the faint touch of a familiar aura from the outside.

After sending word to Glint of where he was going, Kite once again opened the window and took a few steps out into the air before setting down upon the guildhall's roof.

"River," he greeted out into the empty air, unable to spot the priestess for a moment before her aura made itself known again, a lot closer than Kite would have thought possible.

"Kite," Dancer on the Broken River greeted in return, a shimmering silhouette seeming to emerge from a nearby chimney as some kind of concealing enchantment receded. She now wore a mask of smoky glass with only shallow sockets where the eyes were supposed to be, pale hair swaying in the gentle winds of early autumn.

"Is that…?" Kite asked, getting a nod of confirmation in return.

"It is. I received the delivery around two weeks ago. The Queen's herald has delivered as promised," River said, removing the mask and seeming the closest Kite had seen her to content as she regarded it in her hands.

"It is potent and just what I need to bring my hunt to the more populated south." WWJS: [Item] Visage of the Half-Glimpsed Avenger Mask Silver rank - (Growth) Legendary [Effect] Pay a moderate ongoing mana cost to shroud yourself in a concealing illusion obscuring your motions. The concealment is more effective when you are either standing still or moving in a complex environment, but will be temporarily broken when you use a spell, special attack or other mana-intense action.

[Effect] Your exact location is obscured to aura senses, providing at most a general area rather than pinpoint information. Especially powerful senses or senses of a higher rank may partially or entirely bypass this effect. [Effect] The damage and effects of your special attacks are increased against targets whose aura you are currently suppressing. This effect is further increased for a short duration upon your target becoming aware of your location.

Kite was actually surprised when River gave him a summary of what the artifact was capable of, and could only agree to its potency as its stealth effects alone were like an essence power of its own. While it wouldn't ascend to gain additional effects, it was still a great boon to River whose scarred, powerful aura let her evade most spiritual senses already, and according to the priestess the additional damage it could provide was nothing to scoff at either.

"I… Thank you for telling me, River. I must admit I did not expect you to be so forthcoming," Kite said, knowing that the woman would be able to glean his emotions from his aura anyway, should she wish. This led to her giving him another of those unreadable looks he had seen at times during their time spent together inside the trial, before she eventually answered.

"If we are to continue to hunt together, you need to know at least some of my capabilities or you might underestimate what I can do. I did agree to continue… taking your opinions into account in regards to certain targets, after all." From the way River's voice stiffened slightly at the last part, Kite did get the feeling that putting herself even a little beneath someone else's authority like this did not come easy for her, so he did not press further.

Besides, he had other news to share with the scarred woman; news which he hoped would be to her liking.

"That might be pertinent, as I have some additional information for you as well," Kite began, sitting down on the roof even though River remained standing.

"We will probably be operating a lot in the capital around the time of the Proving, with more essence-users than normal gathered. Which in turn might mean more scrutiny."

"An obstacle I shall be able to overcome."

"Perhaps," Kite agreed.

"But I took the liberty of helping that process along somewhat." He proceeded to tell River of his conversation with Anasta Temren and the covert assistance she would be able to give them with a false, temporary identity for River to assume. During his telling, River's frown continually deepened, and as he finished Kite could feel her aura pressing slightly against his, though it seemed to be more of an unconscious gesture.

"Telling her about my presence could have ruined everything," the priestess stated tersely.

"I would have been able to stay unnoticed on my own."

"Given that there will be more gold-rankers about, even with your skills that is less likely than ever," Kite countered.

"Anasta Temren is thorough, and would definitely have found reason to try and keep an eye on those of us who worked beneath her in this contract. And you know that us silvers will have a very hard time hiding from a gold-ranker who has found a reason to truly look. Now you will at least have a legitimate front, even though it won't shield us from your enemies.

From what I knew of Anasta in our interactions, I trusted her to see that the endorsement Soaring Soul gave your sincerity was reason enough to not discard you as a potential asset."

"It was still foolish, a risk."

"As have I found most acts of trust to be, River. Connecting with others is always a risk, but more often than not I've found that it also carries wonderful potential." The scarred woman seemed to mull that over for a while before eventually nodding. Reluctantly.

"Fine," she eventually said.

"Now we can only prepare. I will hunt in the coming years to become as strong as possible before the Proving. We shall set this patch of Discord's would-be garden aflame."

"Brother, it's fine. It said I would make it on my own!"

"And given how I found you stuck in a ditch, I'd say that's a load of dung."

"A trial for me to overcome."

"On a rolling chair made for you to move about back at the inn? Come on, Grain. They say you're the smart one."

"And they're right. Just forgot to add bold and tenacious to it."

"More like stubborn… What if you could spend half as much time in the kitchen as you spend up on that hill looking at the stars. People love your food."

"I'm cooking all the time, so why not let me spend at least a modicum of time away from all that smoke and noise. Besides, it's those stars and the thoughts of the lands beyond that have sparked the ideas for most of my dishes." The two quarreling parties in question were two human men in their mid-twenties. A mere glance would tell anyone with eyes that the pair were brothers, sharing similar strong features and a slight hint of red in their not-quite black hair.

But that was otherwise where the similarities ended. Scythe of Fall was well-built, frame properly filling out his simple but decent quality clothes, while his brother - named Grain of Summer - was lankier, especially in his legs that rested motionless in the wheeled chair that Scythe was currently hauling up the dirt pathway of a hill in their home town of Sunvalley.

As they slowly gained in altitude, more and more of their home could be seen sprawling across a rise in the verdant landscape with different types of farms covering most of it like a patchwork blanket. The hill was nothing special in itself, but with its lone tree at the top it made for a nice scenic spot to rest, think or - occasionally - bring the subject of one's affection to steal a kiss or three.

At this time of day though, it was empty, with most others being busy with work or the like while the innkeeper's boys enjoyed the least hectic hours of the day.

"Why did you have to go up here now of all days? It's not even sundown yet," Scythe complained, steering Grain's chair to let his older brother have the best view while perhaps steering him across the most bumpy segments of roots as a bit of payback for the hard work in pulling him all the way up there.

"The sun isn't as fierce now," Grain replied, enjoying the pleasant warmth of the early autumn sun on his face.

"And besides, Swift Wolf and Merry Sprig have gotten together again, sneaking up here at the end of every shift to… Well, let's just say that they're not as silent as they think they are."

"Well, just let me know when you're ready to go back. Although take your time. I don't mind a break from helping father build the extension of the inn," Scythe said as he laid down at his favorite spot beneath the tree, taking the straw hat previously slung over his shoulders and laying it atop his face. Grain just smiled, in truth grateful for the company. He often got help from someone in town to scale the hill, but most had other things to do than hang around waiting for him.

Scythe though, he always went that additional distance. Even if it chafed in Grain that his brother had to spend so much time helping him.

"That old injuries can ache so much even though the actual pain has faded," he murmured, rubbing his still legs without feeling the sensation. After this, he let his mind wander as he watched the clouds, thinking of faraway places based on the stories told by his father and grandfather. While Grain himself would never be able to, he still fancied the thought of seeing the world beyond their town and the surrounding lands, sampling new ingredients and coming up with even more recipes for the inn's kitchens.

It was a common daydream, like the most comfortable pair of shoes well worn-in by years of walking around, and Grain could spend hours letting his mind wander and enjoying the pleasant weather. But this time, the serene moment was broken long before the brothers would have to start the trek back to the town and prepare for the evening rush.

"Ehm, Scythe?" Grain called, pulled from his daydream by something that was quite beyond the ordinary.

"Hmm?"

"You… might want to look at this." Apparently picking up on his brother's tone, Scythe lifted his hat slightly before sitting bolt upright, staring up at the rapidly incoming object.

"Is that… what is that?" he asked, mesmerized by what looked like a comet made from pure, glittering gemstones in the far distance.

"I have no idea," Grain replied.

"It's the wrong color for a manifestation, thank the gods. But… Wait, it's coming here!" The thing was indeed rapidly approaching, heading straight for the hill where the pair of brothers had been relaxing. Both remained frozen, torn between flight and continuing to gaze at the wonder that soon resolved itself into a majestic serpentine dragon with pearlescent scales that trailed a stream of vapor along with - of everything that it could have been - a small ship.

That indecision left them still standing there, gaping as what could only be described as an odd celestial carriage made a wide turn to swoop down and come to a halt in the air not far from the hilltop where the two men were still gaping, the dragon regarding them with a critical gaze that - Fortune be praised - lacked any hint of hostility.

"Greetings!" The voice that called from atop the ship barely - just barely - managed to pull the two from the hypnotizing sight that was the dragon, revealing that a man had stepped out onto the deck. Both Grain and Scythe had seen enough essence-users in their days to know him for what he was, and from the looks of his means of transportation the two also knew that he wasn't a weak one either.

"Ehm- These lowly ones greet the Master!" Scythe called, quickly diving into a bow while pulling the awe-struck Grain with him as much as the wheeled chair allowed.

"And a greeting most polite, but please look up. Glint here will be cross with me if I don't let you keep appreciating her properly," the essence-user replied in a light tone while gesturing to the dragon, continuing while the young men gladly acquiesced.

"Is this perhaps the town of Sunvalley? We've traveled from Convergence to the north and east, and have not passed through these parts before."

"T-that's right, Master," Grain called back.

"Welcome to our humble town."

"Excellent! And do the two of you perhaps also happen to know of an inn or similar establishment where we can spend the night before continuing our travels tomorrow?" At that, Grain and Scythe managed to stop gawking to look at each other. They were both innkeeper's sons, after all, and few wonders could trump the instinct of managing to bring guests to their family's establishment. Especially ones of such importance.

"O-of course, Master! Let us take you to the most lovingly kept one in the whole of Sunvalley," Scythe called, not daring to call it the finest since he knew that many essence-users were normally drawn to the even more high-class one near the magistrate's manor. Essence-users would know if he lied, after all. But to his relief, the man smiled and nodded.

"Please, lead the way then! We shall be in your care."